Dr. J. Eric Dietz is the Director of the Purdue Homeland Security Institute and Professor in the Computer and Information Technology Department at Purdue University. On loan from Purdue to the State from 2005-2008, Eric was the founding Executive Director for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, a new cabinet-level department in Indiana that included over 300 public safety employees. Eric reorganized Indiana's public safety planning and response placing the responsibility for the safety and security of 6.3 million Indiana residents in one organization. In this time, Dr. Dietz led development of comprehensive plans, training, and exercises needed for Indiana's emergency response and had responsibility for the fire protection policy including the states' building inspection functions. Also during this period, Eric led Indiana's response to 7 Presidential Major Disasters and Emergency Declarations which included restoration and recovery of critical infrastructure. Prior to serving as Executive Director, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Dr. Dietz was responsible for the catalysis of Purdue's homeland security research, increasing the impact of Purdue research on society, and organizing Super Projects in Purdue's Discovery Park. Retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army in 2004, Dr. Dietz led Army research and acquisition programs including chemical weapons detectors, command and control software, communications prototypes and army power systems and was in the initial cadre of Uniformed Army Scientists and Engineers. An Indiana native, Eric was graduated in 1984 from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology after earning a bachelors of science in chemical engineering. He also earned a master’s of science from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1986 and a PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1994 from Purdue University.

Homeland security is one of the most important new areas of study in the twenty-first century. As an interdisciplinary field of study, homeland security is positioned at the intersection of science, engineering, technology, agriculture, management and economics, health sciences, and the social sciences of sociology, psychology, communication and political science. This interdisciplinary focus serves to broaden our fundamental understanding of homeland security issues and offers the potential to significantly impact and contribute to a wide variety of emerging technologies and science.

The program provides students with the opportunity to gain specific skills and an understanding of homeland security issues from a diverse group of faculty while also studying a specific discipline. Students are exposed to theoretical and fundamental issues related to preventing, mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from catastrophic events.

Through a campus-wide, interdisciplinary, graduate-level area of specialization in homeland security, students who complete a required set of two core courses plus additional elective hours in their major area, will earn a designation on their transcripts. Enrollment in and approval of this specialization is done through individual departments and colleges. Below is a list of links to department and college websites related to the homeland security area of specialization.

Graduate students interested in this specialization should contact their departments directly.

The Purdue Homeland Security Institute was established in response to the events of September 11, 2001 with the charter to help our nation prevent, protect, respond and recover from any threat or action taken against our homeland. Today, we fully embrace the principles outlined in the National Response Framework as we work daily to identify and confront the myriad of homeland security challenges our nation faces. We then pursue solutions using the power of inter-disciplinary discovery, learning, and engagement here at Purdue University and apply that knowledge across the State of Indiana and the nation.